Panaji: Coach Khalid Jamil has dropped some of India’s more experienced players for high-profile friendlies at home next month, and it includes captains Sandesh Jhingan and Rahul Bheke.India will play five-time world champions Brazil, two-time world champions Uruguay and FIFA World Cup 2026 participants Panama (world no. 44) during the Sept-Oct international match window. These are the highest profile matches that the national team will play, and they’ll have to do without the experienced players.Jhingan is the biggest name missing from Jamil’s 26-player squad announced on Monday. The FC Goa defender has made 77 appearances for the national team and captained India in two of the last four competitive matches. Bheke led the country against Zimbabwe in the Unity Cup.Football Players’ Association of India (FPAI) player of the year Lallianzuala Chhangte, Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Vishal Kaith – Golden Glove winner at the recently-concluded Durand Cup – winger Liston Colaco and East Bengal midfielder Jeakson Singh are also missing from the list.“Jhingan’s exclusion is the biggest surprise not just because of his experience but also his mindset,” a senior coach told TOI. “In games against far superior opponents, he can be your leader (on the field). He’s known to approach big games differently and has soldiered on even with fractures. India will miss his presence in defence.”Jamil, though, has different ideas as he has picked his squad based on demands of playing three teams that featured at the last FIFA World Cup. In the absence of the seniors, he will have to rely heavily on Anwar Ali, besides the relatively inexperienced but youthful pair of Pramveer and Bijoy Varghese.According to sources, players have been left out due to form and fitness. Goalkeeper Kaith, it is learned, has a shoulder injury and will need three weeks to recover fully. Chhangte too has just made a comeback from a hand injury, though both players featured for Bagan in the Durand Cup final.Worryingly for Jamil, at least 10 of his probables have not had a competitive game this season as Mumbai City, Punjab FC, Odisha FC, Chennaiyin FC and Bengaluru FC did not feature in the season-opening Durand Cup or Asian competitions.Goalkeeper Som Kumar – who’s plying his trade in Slovenian second division league – Mohammed Sanan and Ricky Meitei are the new faces in the team.“We will use the camp in Bengaluru to prepare well and approach each match with the right attitude and intensity,” said Jamil. “This is a very important window for us, with three challenging matches against teams that have played at the World Cup. These games will give the players valuable experience at the international level.”India will begin their preparatory camp on Sept 14 in Bengaluru. After the friendly against Panama, the national team will travel to Kolkata on Sept 28 for their remaining two fixtures against Brazil and Uruguay.